There’s nothing worse than trying to unwind in a tropical location and being subjected to a person nearby who is yammering away on their cell phone. To combat this behaviour, a resort in Indonesia has restricted the use of mobile devices near the pool in order to allow guests to relax in a tranquil environment.
The Ayana Resort and Spa in Bali has implemented the “In the Moment” program, which bans visitors from using smartphones and other electronic devices in the pool area, reports CNN. The ban is in effect from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week. Guests can leave their phones in their rooms or in nearby lockers.
The resort asks visitors to eschew all electronic devices when entering the swim area, including iPads, digital cameras, Kindles, and tablets. The goal is to create a space that is serene and peaceful and allows guests to truly be “in the moment.”
The cliff-top resort shares facilities with the Rimba Jimbaran resort and offers guests the use of 12 swimming pools, including the Aquatonic Seawater Therapy Pool and Spa.
The resort offers alternatives for guests who often rely on digital devices for entertainment, such as card games, magnetic chess, and Jenga. Hotel-goers can also do things the old-fashioned way—read books or magazines or just soak in the sun in a lounge chair.
While the initiative seems very appealing, it can be difficult for some people to unplug—even in breathtaking locations such as Bali. A 2018 survey by OnePoll found that 53 percent of U.S. travellers have never disconnected while visiting other places.
Technology addicts have a compulsion to stay informed, whether it’s for work or personal purposes. There’s a need to check email, update social media status, or read the news.
One in five survey participants said they checked their phone at least once an hour while travelling, and 14 percent said they did so twice an hour.
There are several ways to break a cell phone addiction:
- Set alarms that specify how often you can check your device, and spend just one minute on it before resetting the timer
- Turn off push notifications
- Remove distracting apps from your home screen
- Don’t keep your phone by the bed
- Make the phone less desirable to look at by switching it to greyscale
- Install an app that tracks your habits
- Create a set time of day when you don’t use your phone
- Don’t use your phone when interacting with other people
- Ask your friends and loved ones to hold you accountable
